In a move aimed at fulfilling its promise to improve the welfare of public sector workers, the Federal Government has announced that it will commence the long-awaited payment of the N35,000 wage award arrears owed to federal civil servants. The arrears, which span five months, will be paid in monthly instalments of N35,000, according to an official statement released on Monday by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).
The update was made public through a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the OAGF, Bawa Mokwa, who clarified that while April 2025 salaries will be paid as scheduled, the first instalment of the arrears will be disbursed immediately afterwards. He emphasized that the wage award will not be merged with the April salary, but will follow closely as a separate payment.
This development comes after months of agitation from workers and labour unions over the delay in fulfilling the wage award commitment, which was introduced in 2023 as a temporary palliative to ease the financial burden on public servants in the aftermath of the petrol subsidy removal and other economic reforms. While the government had previously disbursed the wage award for five months, another five months remained unpaid, prompting calls from organised labour for immediate settlement.
The Federal Government, through the OAGF, reaffirmed its commitment to honouring all agreements concerning workers’ welfare, particularly those relating to remuneration and operational conditions within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The office noted that these efforts are part of a broader strategy to boost staff morale, productivity, and institutional efficiency across the federal workforce.
Earlier in January 2025, the government assured that it would clear the outstanding balance of the N35,000 monthly wage award, and also resumed partial payments. However, the full settlement of the arrears had not been actualised until this new development. The delay in disbursement was previously attributed to the late approval of the 2025 budget, which created bottlenecks in fund releases and payroll processing.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, had in recent engagements with labour leaders, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), reiterated the administration’s willingness to honour all agreements reached with trade unions. She stressed that the government remained committed to addressing pending issues surrounding the National Minimum Wage, which was revised in 2023 following negotiations with the Organised Labour.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has in recent weeks expressed dissatisfaction with the delays in implementing the wage-related agreements, especially in light of the rising cost of living and inflationary pressures. The renewed pledge by the government to begin arrears payments may serve as a temporary relief for civil servants who have been awaiting clarity and action on the matter.
As the federal authorities begin the phased payment of the wage award arrears, stakeholders across the public service sector will be watching closely to ensure the promises are fully implemented in a timely and transparent manner.
